Why a Bloomberg nomination has long concerned Team Trump
In August 2018, Trump insider Corey Lewandowski told a Monitor Breakfast that Michael Bloomberg would be the president鈥檚 strongest reelection foe. He cited Mr. Bloomberg鈥檚 money and outsider status.
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is framed by flags while speaking at a campaign event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Feb. 13, 2020.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters
Washington
Dear reader:
Michael Bloomberg鈥檚 path to the Democratic presidential nomination remains wide open. Yes, Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary yesterday 鈥� but聽聽and with less than 26 percent of the vote. The Democratic field is splintered.
That feeds right into the Bloomberg playbook: open the mega-billionaire鈥檚 wallet, flood the airwaves with ads, rake in endorsements (notably, so far, from mayors of cities with large African American populations), and watch Democratic voter support grow. The former New York City mayor is now averaging聽聽in national polls of Democrats.
Mr. Bloomberg鈥檚 plan is to compete in the primaries starting March 3, Super Tuesday. He certainly has his work cut out. He has to perform well in the coming debates, if he actually participates (and assuming he will qualify). He also has to overcome deep concerns about his record as mayor, notably his聽聽policy. A recording released this week by a progressive podcaster had Mr. Bloomberg defending the policy in blunt terms long after he had left office. In responding, the ex-mayor made claims that a New York Times聽聽found misleading.
But Mr. Bloomberg is still very much in the hunt. And he has long been on Team Trump鈥檚 radar. At a Monitor Breakfast in August 2018, Corey Lewandowski 鈥� President Donald Trump鈥檚 first campaign manager and still an informal adviser 鈥� was asked who he thought would be the president鈥檚 toughest challenger in 2020. His response: Mr. Bloomberg.
"Michael Bloomberg has created tens of thousands of jobs... That is a story the American people like, and he鈥檚 an outsider. So I think it would be a very, very competitive race," Mr. Lewandowski said.
To see his full response, watch this聽聽starting at the 1:20 mark.
Now, President Trump says he would rather face Mr. Bloomberg over the Vermont senator, 鈥渂ecause Sanders has real followers.鈥� Mr. Lewandowski,聽, agreed. Both also highlighted Senator Sanders鈥� democratic socialist views. We think that鈥檚 the real point. And if one considers which Democrat Mr. Trump spends聽, then it may be that Mr. Lewandowski had it right the first time.
Let us know what you鈥檙e thinking at csmpolitics@csmonitor.com.